Merry Christmas everyone and I hope all you have a Happy New Year; along with Happy Holidays! Little Behind on SF but hopefully I will be able to finish it up soon; including other stories I have written.
Hermione reread the letter about twenty times, and even preformed a spell making sure it wasn't a joke from one of the other students of Hogwarts. When it came back negative she couldn't believe what was going on. She sat back against the willow tree near the black lake and sighed.
"First the war, now a marriage law?" She whispered to herself. She tried to blink back the tears as she picked up the small piece of parchment and reread it again.
MINISTRY OF MAGIC:
Hermione Jane Granger,
Due to the plethora of wizards and witch's who lost their lives during the war against You Know Who, the Ministry of Magic has decided it would be in the best intentions for a Marriage Law to be placed on wizards and witches between the ages of 17-45 to produce new heirs for our world. Wizards and Witches have one year to bring fourth a child. The witch or Wizard you are to be married to is written below. If you are to refuse, your wand is to be snapped, and you must live in the world of Muggles' never to return.
Sincerely Your Minister of Magic,
Kingsley Shacklebolt
WIZARD TO BE WED: SEVERUS TOBIAS SNAPE
Tears splashed against the paper, and the ink began to bleed. Hermione was devastated. She was tired of the Wizarding World controlling her destiny.
"I wont do it. I refuse." Hermione boldly stated as looked out beyond the grounds of Hogwarts.
"You have no choice Miss Granger, you must." A voice gently whispered.
Hermione turned around, her brown teary eyes meeting twinkling blue ones.
"Come Miss Granger, we need to talk in my office."
Albus Dumbledore politely offered Hermione his arm. When she gently took hold of it he smiled and they apperated to his office.
"Lemon Drop?" Dumbledore asked Hermione as they sat around his desk.
"No thank you sir." Hermione weakly answered.
The green flames roared through the fireplace and Severus Snape walked out yelling.
"ALBUS! I REFUSE! I WILL NOT GO THROUGH WITH THIS SHIT! LET THEM SNAP MY WAND!"
"Severus my boy! I was expecting you, please take a seat next to Miss Granger." Dumbledore said calmly.
Hermione gulped as Professor Snape slowly turned on his left foot and shot her a deathly glare. He pulled out his wand and the chair next to Hermione flew across the room. When he was a safe enough distance from both Dumbledore and Hermione, he settled himself in the shadows.
"Now that you are both here, we need to discuss this. You two are to be married…" Hermione and Severus both went to speak. "Let me finish!" Dumbledore firmly stated.
"As I said you two are to be getting married. You say you refuse but are you willing to really give up everything? To have your wand snapped, and to be kicked out of our world forever?"
Severus stood up, and pulled out his wand. He looked at it pain shooting through his eyes for a second before he did the unthinkable. He snapped it in half let it slip through his hands, and began to leave.
"SEVERUS!" Dumbledore boomed.
Severus stopped. He jerked himself around. "I have ruined enough lives Albus! I refuse to ruin Granger's" He hissed.
Dumbledore walked over to where Severus wand laid in two pieces. He waved his wand over it and it was magically back in one piece. He bent down slowly, his age showing, and picked it up.
"Severus, you really don't want this." Dumbledore placed the wand back in Snape's hand and settled himself behind the desk.
"Sir?" Hermione asked quietly.
"I really am not happy with this, but I am willing to try and make the best of it."
As she said this she was looking towards Professor Snape.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore pepped. "Severus?"
"Fine!" He snapped and with that he began to leave. "Wait Severus!" Dumbledore called.
Snape groaned. "What now old fool?"
"The wedding will take place tomorrow morning at ten o'clock."
"Tomorrow?" Hermione squeaked.
"Yes my dear tomorrow, the sooner the better. Severus. The house elves should be adding an extension to your chambers tonight, please do not scare them off."
Severus Snape mumbled something under his breath and made his exit.
"But sir, what about my parents, what about Harry, Ron, and Ginny…"
"My dear, they have all been informed. They will be here tomorrow morning around five. Now off to bed, you have a big day ahead of you tomorrow."
Hermione stood up, completely numb. Everything was happening so quickly, and she could do nothing about it.
"Goodnight Sir."
Severus Snape sat in his study. He had no idea what to make of the situation. He was marring Hermione Granger. The know-it-all he hated, but admired from a distance. If that made any bloody sense. He took another swig of his fire whiskey and savored the burn that filled his throat. He stood up and headed to his private chambers. He needed to at least try and get some sleep. He crawled into bed and cringed when he realized, he wasn't going to have his bed to himself any more.
